Coal Academy welcomes students to Career Craze Camp

HAGER HILL – The Kentucky Coal Academy of Big Sandy Community and Technical College welcomed several students to the KCTCS sponsored Career Craze Camp, June 10-13.

The Camp took place on the BSCTC Hager Hill Campus and was directed by Harold Burton, BSCTC Workforce Solutions interim director and KCA director. Jim Soard, KCA adjunct instructor and Martha Blair, KCA representative assisted Burton with the Camp.

The trio provided training and information on numerous mining simulators (i.e.) continuous miner and shuttle car operation; dozer and rock truck; roof bolting and other simulators, etc. Students learned how to assemble and wear mining equipment and were instructed on safety and protection for both underground and surface mining.

Additionally, students received instruction on Mine Emergency Technical Training (MET) by Woody Slone, MET specialist of Booth Energy Group. MET training simulates the circumstances and responses that miners should implement in the event of smoke and fire while working underground.

“We truly enjoyed having the students visit and believe they learned valuable information about the mining industry,” Burton said. “The experiences gained via this Camp will provide a good foundation on which they can base their future educational choices.”

Vice President of Institutional Services, Bobby McCool remarked, “We are pleased and honored to have the students visit the Kentucky Coal Academy Career Camp. In addition to the mining simulators, the students learning about the programs and services offered at BSCTC. The College looks forward to providing future educational opportunities to these students.” “An occupation in mining can be rewarding and profitable to those who choose it as a career,” added McCool.

Each of the KCTCS colleges will implement two Career Craze camps this summer. The camps highlight different business/industry sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, mining and utility, etc. Students learn about each occupation and how it leads to high wage, high demand careers.

For more information about the BSCTC KCA Coal Careers Program, contact Harold Burton at (606) 886-3863, ext. 82946 or e-mail harold.burton@kctcs.edu. Information about the many programs and services offered at Big Sandy is available by visiting, http://www.bigsandy.kctcs.edu/ or by calling (606) 886-3863.

For most Kentuckians, higher education begins at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Our statewide system of 16 colleges, more than 70 campuses and 97,000 student is critical component to transforming the state’s economy by providing citizens with the education and training needed for high growth, high wage careers. For more information, visit kctcs.edu.